Fomentation-tank



C. C. McCLINTOCK.

FOMENTATION TANK.

APPLICATION FIIED MAY 3. m9.

PatenteilSept. 2, 1919.

2 SHEE S- -SHEET l- THIS COLUMBIA PLANOIJIIAPII 110., WASHINGTON, I). c.

C. C. McCLlNTOCK.

FOMENTATION TANK.

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CHARLES C. MOCLINTOCK, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FOMENTATION-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed May 3, 1919. Serial No. 294,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. MOOLIN- 'rocx, a citizen of the United States, resid- .ing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fomentation-Tanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fomentation tanks, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character of a portable type and which is particularly adapted for use in the steaming or heating of cloths for use in connection with the treatment of various diseases.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a steam chamber,together with electrical heating means for vaporizing the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character consisting of two separable sections, one of said sections being provided with a. heating means and a second section constituting a steam chamber, together with a reservoir carried by the second section and wherein the delivery of fluid from the reservoir to the action of the heating means is automatically controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character includinga steam chamber and wherein said steam chamber is provided with means to support a cloth therein so that the cloth may be effectivelysteamed or heated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved fomentation tank whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter-be definitely claimed.

' In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a fomentation tank constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the upper or top section of the device as herein disclosed.

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showmgcertain of the parts in a second position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially. on the line 5-'-5 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is afragmentary view partly in section and partly inelevation illustrating a locking means for controlling the opening or closing movements of the doors for the heating chambers or compartments of the upper or top section of the device.

As hereindisclosed, my improved fomentation tank comprises two separable sections A and B. The lower section A has its upper or top face open and arranged within said lower or base section A is a heating means H having positioned 'therebeneath and in close proximity thereto a reflector a or the like which serves to materially facilitate the action of the heating unit. In practice, it is preferred that the heating means H comprise a pluralit of electric heating coils of a conventiona type with each coil controlled by an individual switch or rheostat,-but as the particular construction and arrangement thereof forms no part of my present invention it is not believed that a ,detail description and illustration thereof are necessary.

The upper or top section 13. comprises a closed chamber divided into two compartments (3 by the transversely disposed partition. 1 having its lower end. terminating ,above thebottom ofthe upper or top section B but adapted to extend below the normal water level within said section when the device is in operation, so that the water or other fluid serves to seal the communication betweenthe compartments C.

The bottom of the upper or top section B is defined by the depending flanges 2 extending within the bottom or base section A and an end flange 2 is engaged with an inwardly directed lug 3 carried by the adjacent end wall of the bottom or base sec-. tion A. The opposite end flange 2 rests upon an inwardly directed flange 4 carried by the adjacent end wall of the base for bot.-

tom section A and coacting with this end grasp G.

The sides and jtOP of the upper or top section B are prQVided with communicating reservoirs R and the lower portions of the side reservoirs are connected by thepipe 6, and said reservoirs are filled through the vent 7 in ,thetop ofthe section B andwhich vent is rnormally closed the plug 8.

Qne of the side reservoirs" adjacent its lower end has in communicationtherewith ,a discharge vent 9 including an upstanding portion with which coacts the controlling or check valve "10,. The valvelO carried by an end portion of an arm '11 pivotal-1y supported intermediate its length :for rocking movement avertical path. Suitably 1secured to-the-outer end portionof the arm-11 is the float Fso that the valve 10 will be opened and closed as the water level within the upper or top member Brises or falls, whereby substantially a constant water level is .n ainta'ined within the section Disposed through the float F is a stem 12 whiche rtendsabove and below said float and the lower end portion of the stem is operatively connected with a switch S interposed in the li l a in h n m H a source of electrical energy so that sheuld the water level in the section B 'hecqme und ly l he switch S 1 be creased to cut bu th ng member H and thereby prevent damage to the device a id e im n te h "Po b t of fi 5. jd nqte i eems Mm 1 1 y e ing down upon the upper end ofthe stem 12 in order to assure a proper cut out of the heating mem e w en t Water ev within th lsection 1 co s oo 1;. W- It wi llfbe understood that when the normal level within thesection B is restored, 12118 liSi lg 9f the float F will result in the ilbsing o th wi 3- i A f 'de face f the upper or top section B has'iinconlmrni at o w ea of t mpartments an opening 15 preferably rec- ,tangular in form and coacting witheach of saidlopenings 15 is a pair of doors 1D and D. The outer door D is hingedly connected at itsllofwer endwith theadjacent face of the v. es iil B po nt b ow th p ng and the m rg na P r o s o id do we provided with the inwardly directed flanges jlfi which, when the door D is closed, snugly fits between the side members of the inwardly directed and outwardly opening flange 17 defining the opening 15. By this arrangement, with low steam pressure within the coacting chamber C, said chamber is ren-.

dered substantially steam-tight when the door D is in closed position.

YVhen the door D is closed, the coacting door D is positioned adjacent the opposite side wall of the door D, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Engaged with the door D are the links -18 in vertical spaced relation and converging toward the door D with the upper link 18 substantially horizontally disposed. lhe converging end portions of the links 18 are slidably engaged with the door D so that when the door D is swung into open position, the door D will be pulled forwardly and caused to close the opening 15;.

The marginal portion of the door D is defined by the forwardly extending flanges 19 which engage over the flanges when the door D is in closed position and in order to eifect a substantially steam tight joint. The doorD rests upon and travels along theitracks 20 arranged withineachof the compartments C and disposed transversely of the section B, whereby the desired closing action" of the .door'D, when the door D is opened, is assured.

' Each of the doors D is provided adjacent its top with an inwardly directed rack 21 while the upper portion ofeach of the doors D is provided with a forwardly directed rack 22. Woolen" cloths or the like are adapted to be suspended from the racks 21 and 22 and when'the' door is closed, the cloths ,thus suspended will be thoroughly steamedor heated while within a compartinentC.

' In practice, it is preferred that when one of the doors D is in open position, the second door D be held inclosed position, and in the present embodiment of my invention, this is accomplished .by the rock arm 23 supported substantially midway its length for swingingmovemen't in avertical path by the "partition 1. Said arm 23 extends through the partltion '1 into each of the compartments C above the horizontally disposed links 18. Each of the links 18 in its upper edge and adjacent its outeror forward end is provided with a notch or recess 24jhaving leadin thereto from the reara cam edge 25. Whenthe doors D are in closed position, the arm 23 is free of the notches or recesses 24 but when one of the doors "D is moved outwardly into open position, the cam edge 25 will engage one portion .of the'arm'23 and force said end portion upwardly resulting n theopposite end portion ofthe arm 23 being swung downwardly into the notch or recess 24 in theupper link 18 c oacting with the second d-oon D, so that when one of the doors D is opened, the secondfl door D is locked against outward movement. By

this means, an effective steaming or heating of the cloths within one compartment C may be effected while cloths are being removed from or applied within a second compartment.

It is also desired that when the water level within the upper or top section B is too low.

the doors D be held against movement and, as herein disclosed, the lower flange of each of the doors D is provided with a depending lug 26 with which engages a rock arm 27 carried by a shaft 28 rotatably supported .within the section B below the tracks 20 and extending longitudinally of the section B. It is to be understood that there is a rock arm 27 for coaction with each of the lugs 26.

An end portion of the shaft 28 is provided with a depending rock arm 29 which extends below the float F so that when the float F falls, the contact of the float with the arm 29 will rotate the shaft 28 to cause the rock arms 27 to extend upwardly and one of said arms 27 will engage behind a lug 26 depending from a door D in closed position, so that the return of said door D into open position and the moving of the coacting door D will be prevented until the water level within the section B has been returned to normal.

Each of the doors D has engaged with the upper portion thereof a ring 30 or the like which affords means whereby the requisite manipulation of the door D may be conveniently accomplished.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a fomentation tank constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a steam chamber divided into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments having an opening in communication therewith, a door coacting with each of the openings, and means operated by a door when the same is moved into open po sition for locking the remainder of the doors in closed position. v

2. A device of the class described comprising a steam chamber, a reservoir, a float for controlling the delivery from the reservoir within the chamber, said chamber having an opening in communication therewith, a door coacting with said opening, and

means under control of the float for locking the door in closed position upon lowering of the float.

3. A device of the class described com prising a steam chamber, a reservoir, a float for controlling the delivery from the reservoir within the chamber, a heating means coacting with the chamber, and means operable by the float for controlling the heatmg means.

4. A device of the character described comprising a steam chamber, said chamber having an opening in communication therewith, a door coacting with said opening, and means under buoyant control for looking the door in closed position.

5. A device of the class described comprising a chamber, a reservoir delivering within the chamber, a float for controlling the delivery from the reservoir to the chamber, said chamber having an opening in communication therewith, a door coacting with said opening, a rock shaft extending within the reservoir and the chamber, a rock arm carried by the shaft, said shaft being provided with means whereby the same is rotated upon lowering of the float to move the rock arm from a position for locking the door against movement.

6. A device of the class described including a chamber having an opening, a pair of doors coacting with said opening, one of said doors having swinging movement, and a link connecting said doors, said link having sliding connection with one of the doors and pivotal connection with the second door.

7 A device of the class described including a chamber having an opening, a pair of doors coacting with said opening, one of said doors having swinging movement, and a link connecting said doors, said link having sliding connection with one of the doors and pivotal connection with the second door, said second door having substantially rectilineal movement.

8. A device of the class described including a chamber having an opening, a pair of doors coacting with said opening, one of said doors having swinging movement, a link connecting said doors, said link having sliding connection with one of the doors and pivotal connection with the second door, and means engageable with the link for holding the doors against movement.

9. A device of the character described including a chamber divided into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments having an opening in communicatlon therewith, a door coacting with each of the com partments, and a member common to all of the compartments operating upon movement of a door into open position to lock the remainders of the doors in closed position.

10. A device of the class described comprising a chamber divided into two compartrnents, jeach of seidcompertments havingan opening in communication therewith,'

the compartments and operating upon move ment of one of the doors into Open position to lock ;the second door in closed position.

11. A device of thecheracter described including 2L chamber having an opening, said opening being defined by an inwardly directed flange substantiall u-mshaped in form and opening outwardly, and a pair of conneeted doors coacting with the opening, one

of said doors :being provided with en ini open position.

weirdly directed flange flitting with n th dosed PQ th second de being provided with a flange .oy rlyin-gaid firs named flange when the second door is in closed po ition, on of .deqrs being in a closed ppsi ion when t othe .do rjis in In testimony whereof I hereun q a fiix my signature in the presence of two witnesees.

AR ES G. MQCL N' EQCK- Witnesses:

J. B. GALLIQN,

N. \GAL IQN.

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